Formalizing feedback in work-integrated learning partnerships: opportunities for collaboration

Work-integrated learning (WIL) involves employers and industry in education and training. In order to maximize benefits for all involved, sustainable and reciprocal processes are necessary. While institutions may have internal mechanisms to gather feedback from external partners, the feedback process often tends to be ad hoc. To inform the development of systematic and useful mechanisms, in-depth semi-structured interviews were held with eight representatives of large industry groups providing WIL opportunities for nursing and allied health students enrolled in two Australian universities. Interviews were recorded and transcribed; data was analyzed thematically. Findings confirm the centrality of relationships to successful WIL partnerships. Although participants expressed general satisfaction with existing feedback processes, the consensus was for: (a) the introduction of more strategic and standardized approaches, and (b) collaborative approaches based on rigorous and careful understanding of the WIL context.